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Refugee Situation: Exposing Human Nature

These three books show how the current Syrian refugee crisis exposes some the worst aspects of human nature.

Firstly through the HUMAN cause of the crisis: widespread violence against large populations in Syrian cities and towns, inflicted by both governments and extremist groups.

Secondly through the exploitation of those trying to flee to safety. Profiteers charging large fees to “help” people escape to safer locations – but so often sending those trusting in them to their deaths.

Thirdly through vindictive, violent responses to refugees on the road or at sea.

Fourthly the response of people and their governments who close their doors to people in desperate need.

Each of these books give personal stories of the abuses and suffering that lead countless individuals and families to take that last resort of leaving behind everything they’ve known, everything they’ve worked for and often everyone they know (friends and family) in the hope that they’ll find a better life elsewhere.

Hoping that when safety has been reached, they can work to bring their families to join them along a safer road than their own journey.

Despite the horrors, and despite the underlying inhumanity assaulting those seeking safety – those seekers have to draw on those rare human virtues that sometimes arise out of adversity.

In The Morning They Came for Us, Janine Di Giovanni gives a brutal, confronting and uncompromising look at the nature of the Syrian conflict where torture, rape and murder are no less weapons of war than bombs and guns.

This is the background to the millions of refugees who try to escape to safety, the refugees who many in the west (including so-called Christians) are intent to demonise.

Part of the story of A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea by Melissa Fleming is perhaps better told by the author herself in this video.